On the path of the Monks of Cluny

Froidefontaine was founded around 1100, when monks from Cluny established a priory in a marshy area. All that remains of the Benedictine monastery church is the 12th-century Romanesque apse. Three human heads can be seen on the cornice. The gravestones on either side of the portal date from 1750. The presbytery next to the church is remarkable for its size.

Details

1758204
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 47 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 45 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 384 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 333 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Brebotte (90140)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.582487° / E 6.965277°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3621OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park near the Rhône-Rhine Canal, on the edge of the D13.

(S/E) Follow the towpath along the canal on your left until you reach the swing bridge at the entrance to Froidefontaine. Cross the canal and head towards the church (marked with green circles).

(1) After visiting the church, walk past the school to reach Rue Principale. Follow this road to the left, towards Brebotte, then continue along the street of the same name. You will reach the last houses in the village, just before Impasse de la Marnière.

(2) Continue right on a farm track called Chemin de la Carrière. After crossing a small copse and skirting the pastures, the path runs alongside the Grand Coteau forest. Continue straight ahead to reach the Étang des Baraques.

(3) Turn left onto a path that climbs up a small hill. At the edge of the forest, follow a good rural path on the left that leads to Étang Brebin. Walk along the lake.

(4) Turn left onto a dirt track that returns to Recouvrance, passing under the high-voltage power line. At the bend, you will reach the first houses.

(5) Turn left onto Rue de la Presle. Pass the town hall, then turn left onto the D37 (Rue de l'Écrevisse) and continue along Rue du Combal.

(6) At the crossroads, continue left onto Rue de la Fontaine, then Rue des Haies. You will come out onto the D13 (Rue des Écrevisses).

(7) Turn left onto this street, which leads to the canal bridge. Cross the bridge to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 337 m - Car park - Canal du Rhône au Rhin
  2. 1 : km 2.47 - alt. 335 m - Cross the canal. Near the - Bourbeuse
  3. 2 : km 3.26 - alt. 341 m - Farm track on the right
  4. 3 : km 5.29 - alt. 371 m - Étang des Baraques
  5. 4 : km 6.27 - alt. 375 m - Étang Brebin, on the left
  6. 5 : km 6.94 - alt. 365 m - Rue de la Presle
  7. 6 : km 8.02 - alt. 342 m - Crossroads, on the left
  8. 7 : km 8.42 - alt. 339 m - D13, on the left
  9. S/E : km 9.02 - alt. 339 m - Car park - Rhône-Rhine Canal

Notes

This walk can be started from Froidefontaine, in the car park in front of the church.
Walking shoes are recommended, as the route includes dirt tracks and forest paths.

Worth a visit

In Froidefontaine, walk around the church and look at the information boards.

In Recouvrance, there are many interesting signs to read. They bear witness to the villagers' way of life.

In Brebotte, you will find the Museum of Crafts and Rural Traditions.

The Rhône-Rhine Canal is bordered by two paths, one of which is the Euro Velo 6 cycle route, so it is used by cyclists, who can be very numerous at certain times of the year.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Claude Rémond
Claude Rémond

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Three villages crossed in 9 km is good; they are interesting and varied, with woods, ponds and... villages. Recouvrance has made some original improvements.
It's worth mentioning that you need suitable footwear because there is a passage before the ponds in the bed of an old stream, which is not completely dry and can be quite muddy depending on the rainfall before the hike.
The return trip along the canal is on the old towpath, but on the other side of the Rhône-Rhine Canal there is a tarmac cycle path (the EuroVéloRoute) which can also be used unless prohibited, with no potholes, but where quite a few bikes pass, so it is less peaceful.

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badjo
badjo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I set off from the Froidefontaine car park at point 1.
It's a pleasant route, mainly through wooded areas and across ponds.
I also recommend the other hike in the area, which will take you along different paths.

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francoisg90
francoisg90

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant hike

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corna54
corna54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike that allowed us to enjoy a pleasant, relaxing walk with small ponds, a canal and small villages beautifully decorated with flowers. The descriptions are very good but not necessary, given the excellent signage along this hike.

Daniel

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Rollin Chantal
Rollin Chantal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike
The pretty village of Recouvrance.
We changed the route at point 4. We continued straight on along the wide path towards Grosne, then turned left to reach Recouvrance: this allowed us to walk alongside ponds along a very pleasant path.

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ALAIN GAUTHERON
ALAIN GAUTHERON

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Pleasant, easy route.
Recouvrance is a very pretty village.
The route starts at AUTRECHENE D13
We set off from the church car park in FROIDEFONTAINE and returned via the canal.
Thank you for this lovely walk.

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